Final answer:
A scatter plot with a non-linear pattern indicates that a linear regression model is not suitable. One should consider non-linear models or data transformations. In statistical analysis, R's nlm() function can be used to find the best model parameters through the minimization of the negative log-likelihood.
Step-by-step explanation:
When examining a scatter plot, it is important to identify the pattern of the data points. If the data suggest a linear relationship, then a linear regression model might be suitable. However, a non-linear pattern suggests that linear regression isn't appropriate. In such cases, it is necessary to consider non-linear models or transformations that can linearize the relationship for analysis.
For the likelihood and log-likelihood, these are fundamental concepts in statistics used to estimate the parameters of a statistical model. They measure how well the model explains the observed data. The negative log-likelihood is often used in optimization problems because it turns the maximization problem into a minimization one, which is more common in optimization algorithms.
Using R for statistical computing, the nlm() function can be utilized to numerically minimize the negative log-likelihood, thus finding the parameter estimates that make the observed data most probable. Moreover, once the model parameters are estimated, standard errors can be calculated to construct confidence intervals and perform hypothesis testing to evaluate the significance of the parameters.